Winnipeg, MB - MTS Centre

Canada
MTS Centre
Winnipeg, MB
March 10-11, 2012

(Winnipeg, MB) The 2012 Maple Leaf Monster Jam Tour powered into MTS Centre on Saturday, March 10th. Following a sold-out Pit Party, Winnipeg Monster Jam fans were ready for the greatest show in motor sports.

For the first time ever, Team Scream was in the building and included two-time World Champion Avenger (Jim Koehler), Brutus (Chris Bergeron), Spike (Jeff Anderson), and Wrecking Crew (Steve Koehler). But they wouldn’t have it easy today, as Northern Nightmare (Cam McQueen) and Grave Digger (Rod Schmidt) were present to make sure the competition stayed at a record-breaking level.

Jim Koehler in Avenger won the Wheelie Competition with a score of 25 points. Teammate Wrecking Crew scored 24 points, while a score of 23 was achieved by both Grave Digger and Spike. Northern Nightmare managed 22, while Brutus scored 14 to round out the competition.

Monster Jam Racing Round One paired Northern Nightmare against Wrecking Crew, with Northern Nightmare taking the win. Unfortunately for Canadian driver Cam McQueen, however, the right rear wheel broke off and Northern Nightmare was unable to continue in racing competition. In other Round One racing, Grave Digger defeated Spike and Brutus chewed up Avenger.

Semi Final Racing action saw Wrecking Crew return against Grave Digger. Wrecking Crew took the win as Grave Digger spun in the final corner and was unable to cross the finish line. In a similar circumstance, Jim Koehler in Avenger missed an approach ramp, handing the win to Brutus.

The Monster Jam Racing Final saw Brutus and Wrecking Crew roll to the line. The race was a close one on the Chicago-style oval course, but in the end it was Chris Bergeron in Brutus capturing the victory. In the post race interview, Bergeron let the fans know that he would be the only driver eligible for the Double Down Award here today, and that he intended to chase it with all his heart.

With four Team Scream members present in the MTS Centre, Kildonan Place Freestyle Competition produced some fantastic action. Jim Koehler found himself atop the leader board for some time, before Cam McQueen returned with a repaired Northern Nightmare and raised the bar with an awesome performance and eventual rollover. But as good as everyone looked today, Rod Schmidt in Grave Digger was truly the man of the hour. Schmidt flew his black and green wrecking machine throughout the MTS Centre and flattened every object in his path.

The drivers earned the following Freestyle scores:

Brutus: 19
Avenger: 21
Spike: 17
Northern Nightmare: 22
Wrecking Crew: 17
Grave Digger: 23

In other motor sports action, Team USA stole the Quad Wars Final victory with a last lap pass over Team Canada. In Freestyle Snowcross action, Teddy Culbertson pulled a huge Backflip that brought the crowd to their feet.

The second event of the weekend is just hours away with a 7 P.M. scheduled start time. Don’t miss one second of the action as the stars of Monster Jam get down to business here in Winnipeg.

We will see you tonight!

By Darren Pallen

(Winnipeg, MB) Some people may ask what a hockey puck has in common with achieving great success in Monster Jam. And although the two sports are quite unrelated, they may share more similarities than you might think.

Just this season, the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets returned to Winnipeg for good for the first time in fifteen years. Hoping to capture the incredible spirit of the city, McQueen decided he would fasten a Winnipeg Jets hockey puck to the hood of his Northern Nightmare machine before Monster Jam competition began on Saturday night.

It wasn’t long before McQueen found the combination he was looking for. The Kelowna, British Columbia native won the Wheelie Competition with a score of 26 points. Second place went to Avenger with 25 points, while Spike and Wrecking Crew earned 21 points each. Grave Digger rounded out the competition with a 19-point tally.

With Brutus out for the night with mechanical problems, Avenger earned the bye run in Monster Jam Racing Round One. Northern Nightmare took on Wrecking Crew, with Northern Nightmare coming out on top. In the final race of Round One, Grave Digger tamed Spike.

Semi Final Racing action paired Spike against Northern Nightmare, with the Canadian-based truck taking the win. In the other semi, Avenger beat Grave Digger in a great race.

The Monster Jam Racing Final paired Avenger against Northern Nightmare. In a preview of what might be seen at the World Finals XIII in Las Vegas in a few weeks, both drivers knew the importance of this particular race. The Chicago-style course provided the canvas; the drivers provided the colour. In what turned out to be an epic battle, Canada’s Northern Nightmare reached the finish line first, much to the delight of the crowd.

The Triple Down for Northern Nightmare was completed during Kildonan Place Monster Jam Freestyle Competition. It didn’t always look like Northern Nightmare would take the win, however. Rod Schmidt in Grave Digger started his run with two of the most impressive and massive Long Jumps in MTS Centre history. You could almost see the look of determination on Schmidt’s face as he clawed away at the Freestyle victory.

Unfortunately for Grave Digger, a hard landing off a Long Jump resulted in a rollover. This cut short Schmidt’s run by almost half. Had Grave Digger been able to continue, he might have earned a perfect 30 from the Pizza Pizza Judges. But that is just the nature of this game. You win some, and you lose some.

The drivers earned the following Freestyle scores:

Avenger: 22
Spike: 17
Northern Nightmare: 23
Wrecking Crew: 16
Grave Digger: 14

FREESTYLE WINNER: Northern Nightmare!

In other motor sports action, Team Canada stormed back to win the Quad Wars Final. In the Freestyle Snowcross demonstration, Willy Elam and Teddy Culbertson did not disappoint as they wowed the crowd with their high-flying antics.

As we prepare for the third and final Monster Jam event of the weekend here at MTS Centre, there is no doubt that the competition level will be higher than ever. When you combine world-class machinery with the finest drivers in the world, nothing but great things can happen.

We will see you at the Pit Party tomorrow at 12 P.M.!

By Darren Pallen

(Winnipeg, MB) As the Advance Auto Parts World Finals XIII presented by NGK Spark Plugs draws closer to its March 23rd and 24th start time, one must wonder if there will be a new World Champion crowned. Judging by the performance of a Canadian-based driver in 2012, that question may be answered with not much surprise to those asking it.

For the second time in a row this weekend British Columbia’s Cam McQueen in Northern Nightmare tore through Monster Jam competition with a perfect three-for-three performance. That feat in itself is not easy, but when you have World Champions Grave Digger and Avenger in the building, it makes things just that much more difficult.

Northern Nightmare began the “perfect afternoon” with a score of 28 points in the Wheelie Competition. Second place went to Avenger with a 27 point score. Wrecking Crew earned 24, while Grave Digger tallied 22 points. Brutus scored 20, and Spike 19.

Monster Jam Racing action brought success for Northern Nightmare once again. The Monster Jam Racing Final paired Northern Nightmare against Grave Digger in what was a great race until both trucks bobbled on the final turn. Cam McQueen and Rod Schmidt both did a great job of recovering, but it was the Canadian who recovered first. At the finish line, it was all Northern Nightmare.

Early Racing rounds shook down like this:

Round One: Northern Nightmare defeated Wrecking Crew, Grave Digger beat Spike, and Avenger tamed Brutus.

Semi-Final: Northern Nightmare beat Wrecking Crew, and Grave Digger buried Avenger.

Kildonan Place Monster Jam Freestyle Competition produced some incredible action, and for a time it looked like two-time World Champion Jim Koehler in Avenger would be the winner. Koehler was simply incredible as he worked his way around the track on route to a score of 25 points.

But Northern Nightmare was not finished winning just yet. Driver Cam McQueen knew he needed to be near flawless to knock off the champ. McQueen used everything in his bag of tricks and took the big Freestyle win with a score of 27 points, much to the delight of the Canadian crowd.

The drivers earned the following Freestyle scores:

Avenger: 25
Spike: 8
Northern Nightmare: 27
Wrecking Crew: 17
Grave Digger: 19

FREESTYLE WINNER: Northern Nightmare!

In other action, Team Canada scored victory over Team USA with a dramatic last-lap pass in the Quad Wars Final.

Without a doubt, Winnipeg Monster Jam fans experienced three great shows over two days in the beautiful MTS Centre. It was great to hear the awesome vibe of these great folks as they left the autograph session for yet another year.

Now, Viva Las Vegas! We will see you at the World Finals on March 23rd and 24th!

By Darren Pallen